BIRMINGHAM, Alabama
- Former
University of Alabama quarterback and Hall of Famer Joe Namath will be the Grand
Marshal for the 2014 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on April 25-27 at Barber
Motorsports Park.

The announcement came today from Barber Motorsports Park and
ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive management team and promoter for the world-class
road racing facility.

"We are
honored to have another well-respected athlete as our grand marshal," Gene
Hallman, president of ZOOM Motorsports, said in a prepared statement. "His
presence will add to the fun-filled weekend, and what a great opportunity for
fans to get up-close with a true legend."

Namath
played college football under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant at the
University of Alabama from 1962 until 1964. The signal-caller led the team to a
national championship in 1964.

Namath went
on to play for the New York Jets, leading the team to a win over the Baltimore
Colts in Super Bowl III, among many other division championships. He
finished his career playing for the Los Angeles Rams.

Nicknamed
"Broadway Joe" and "Joe Willie," he was inducted into the Professional Football
Hall of Fame in 1985.

Namath's
duties as grand marshal of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama include
announcing the widely recognized pre-race command, "Gentlemen, start your
engines!" to begin Sunday's race. Broadcast live on NBC Sports
Network, Namath will be waving the green flag to start the race for some
of the biggest stars of INDYCAR including Will Power, Helio Castroneves, Marco
Andretti, Juan Pablo Montoya.

"I am
excited to be a part of this world-class event," Namath said in a statement. "I'm
really looking forward to meeting the fans at the race, and finally seeing this
motorsports park that I have heard so much about."

Namath's
participation in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will benefit the
Arthritis Foundation of Alabama. Details of fundraising efforts
surrounding the race weekend will be announced at a later date.